1910 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 SS 7 passenger Tourer

[AndrewBall]

Figured i would post this now. This is a Pierce-Arrow that i maintain for several shows. it took Second place at Amelia Island Concours D' Elegance in 2009. It also won awards at 100 Motorcars of Radnor Hunt as well as a few other shows.

The Car:
http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0002.jpg


The Process:

I apologize for not having before or during shots of this whole process.

The car was painted in early-2008, where I was hired to go an do the first correction to it. I proceeded to wet sand the single stage paint on every piece and polish it. Luckily the car was apart and i was able to do every piece individually.

For this process I used my rotary and 3M Perfect-It 3000 Rubbing compound on a wool pad. I followed that up with a 3M perfect-it Gray polishing pad with 3M Perfect-It Machine Polish and then followed that up with a 3M Perfect-It Ultrafine Foam finish pad and 3M perfect-it 3000 Ultrafine Finishing Polish. Each panel was then individually wrapped up in these special cloth bags the restorer had made. They were not due to be mounted for another 6 months.

Before they were mounted I came back and applied meguiars #7 Show Car Glaze, and then applied Klasse High Gloss Sealant to every panel top and bottom and the entire tub of the car, I let that sit for 36 hours and then removed. Then applied another coat. This car was starting to look good.

A few months later the car would be put together. Once it was assembled completely I would be washing the car since it had to be road tested a few times.

The car got relatively dirty, it was winter 2008 and the car was supposed to be on the show field in amelia island in a few months :help:

I put the car on the lift and washed the entire thing. In and out, Top and Bottom. Once dried I applied a third coat of Klasse HG Sealant.

The car was now clean and sitting in a clean room awaiting some final tweaks but it was time for wax.

I started with 3M performance Finish. I did two coats of this and then I finished it all off with an application of P21s Concours (fitting right?) I did one coat before the car left for the show and one coat the night before the show.

Day of the show. It rained the night before! the field was damp and there was a dense fog (so dense it would make you wet!)
I was going to start a wipe down but got sidetracked by two GTP Cars. I came back a few minutes later and it wasn't misting anymore so I proceeded to dry the car. Once dried I used Meguiars #34 Final Inspection. There were a few other detailers out that morning.

Anyway the car did very well in the show and I thoroughly enjoyed being there.

When we came back the car did a few more shows. that year, then later that year i got to take some pictures of it.

here they are

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0001.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0003.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0004.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0005.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0006.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0007.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0008.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0009.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0010.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0011.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0012.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0013.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0014.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0015.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0016.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0017.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0018.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0019.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0020.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0021.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0022.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0023.jpg

http://www.blankmediagroup.com/Pictures/Andrew/detail/pierce/BL_NK-0024.jpg

[Shane731]

Wow oh wow! Now that is not a car, that is a piece of art! Im the MAN

[Mike Phillips]

I agree with Shane, that's a rolling work of art and you've really done a great job of detailing it to perfection...

Thanks for sharing...


:dblthumb2:

[Dubbin1]

Amazing car!!! There is nothing better then an old brass car.

[AndrewBall]

Thanks Guys!

I wish i could gloat and say my detailing skills got me the job but in reality my grandfather owns this car. So i was an obvious choice :)

[mchess1]

Amazing piece of history and great work

[Meghan]

Amazing car and they photographs are absolutely beautiful!

[CEE DOG]

She's a beauty!

[oldmodman]

I just love the early "Brass Era" cars. They just don't seem to get the respect they deserve any longer. I'm afraid that when all us "old guys" are gone nobody will really care any longer.

Look at all the incredible collections that are broken up and sold piecemeal when the owner dies and his family doesn't care about them, except for the money.

But you did a wonderful job on that old classic. It never looked that good when new.

[eversio]

:urtheman: Absolutely gorgeous!

[AndrewBall]

I just love the early "Brass Era" cars. They just don't seem to get the respect they deserve any longer. I'm afraid that when all us "old guys" are gone nobody will really care any longer.

Look at all the incredible collections that are broken up and sold piecemeal when the owner dies and his family doesn't care about them, except for the money.

But you did a wonderful job on that old classic. It never looked that good when new.

I hear you on that. Luckily my families cars will not go to auction just for the money (although pawning off this pierce could buy my and 3 close friends a nice house!)

Our family has owned that car since the 1940's. before that it was owned by Alfred DuPont. in the late 60's it was torn apart for restoration. and it wasnt completed till 2008

[shadowstep]

http://knowyourmeme.com/i/000/066/552/original/whos-awesome.jpg

[AndrewBall]

Well it looks like we have a very rare opportunity. This car got invited back to amelia island (something that never happens). So right now the car has a long way to go before it ready for one of the most prestigious show fields there is. Sadly the car has to come apart before I can break out the wax. The motor seized a few weeks ago so it has to come apart and be rebuilt and then put back together and then i will have about 6 days from start to finish to detail every inch of this thing. Both top and bottom, inside and out.

its going to be a long road; and once the project begins, i will start a thread with pictures of the whole process. all the way up to the show day in Amelia Island, Florida.

[WestEnd]

Very very cool, Andrew.

Talk about real wood in autos, that is amazing. And the spark plug wires and how they connect to the plug. This is absolutely incredible.

Nothing compares to this brass technology, love the side light canisters too. Wow!

Quite a project, looking forward to the pics.

[C. Charles Hahn]

That car is solid proof they don't build 'em like they used to! Looking forward to the new thread, Andrew.